Finally Scotland is just a stone's throw from success

Forget football or rugby and celebrate real winners as our brave boys take to the field, or rather sea of battle, writes Neil Drysdale

With the country’s footballers ranked 74th in the world, the rugby team mired in mediocrity and track and field athletics a million miles removed from the glory days of Allan Wells and Liz McColgan, sporting Scots invariably have to search out more arcane, esoteric activities in which to make their mark.

Elephant polo? Nobody does it better. Back-hold wrestling? Absolutely. This afternoon, Andrew McKinna will continue to uphold that glorious, if slightly batty, tradition when he strives to defend his title as World Stone Skimming Champion on Easdale Island near Oban. Now in its ninth year, the competition is expected to attract 150 competitors from around the globe, including Australia and South Africa.

It might seem like a joke sport to the uninitiated — akin to the egg and spoon or fancy dress race — but there is an intense rivalry between the top skimmers and wild rumours, probably started by high-spirited